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News from Bethel Lutheran Church | St. Louis, Missouri
In today’s Connection:
  • This Week from Pastor Merle
  • Stewardship Notes
  • Holy Week
  • Palm Sunday
  • Adult Forum
  • Easter Breakfast
  • Baseball Breakfast
  • Sierra Club
  • #FewerPlasticforLent
  • Easter Egg Hunt
  • Moon Over Buffalo
  • EMC Academy
  • Council Minutes
  • Spring Academy
The Days Ahead at Bethel
April 1
11am Easter Egg Hunt
Palm Sunday
8:45 Pave the Way
10:00am Holy Communion
Maundy Thursday 4/6
7:00pm Holy COmmunion
Online Worship Streaming
You can join our 10:00 a.m.
Sunday worship service remotely. Details can be found at
https://bethelstl.org/live-video.

You can join via Zoom on
your computer or smart device. The Zoom link is the same every week.
If you don't have a computer or smart device available, you can listen on your phone by:
* calling 312 626 6799
* when prompted, entering Meeting ID: 835 0996 0310   and Passcode: 207371
**for a complete list of what's going on at Bethel,
see our:
Main Calendar
Parking at Bethel



 
Covid Advisory Team
As respiratory viruses (covid, influenza, RSV) return to our community, please take a moment to keep our community healthy.  Remember that our community remains at higher risk for complications from each of these infections.
We ask that you or your family members do not attend Bethel activities when you are ill, including coughing, sneezing, or fevers. Remember that services continue on zoom and live streaming if you or a family member are ill.
Other ways to keep our community healthy include vaccinating yourself against both coronavirus and influenza as well as wearing masks in public places.

Please direct questions to Covidquestions@Bethelstl.org
Weekly Hospitality
Hosting after-service hospitality is a great way to serve the congregation (literally) and to encourage fellowship.  We have plates, cups and napkins.  We also keep ice and lemonade mix available.  You just bring your favorite snacks!  There is a paper sign-up form on a clipboard in the trays in the back of the narthex (southeast corner).  You can also sign up online here or by calling Anna in the Bethel office. 

Fill a bag for the 
Good Ground Pantry!
We started a new emphasis on supporting the Good Ground Pantry. Remember to take a bag this month, fill it and return it to the baskets in the Narthex. 

How does this work? 
  • Take a bag from the basket in the Narthex. 
  • Fill it with food. 
  • Return the bag of food to Bethel any Sunday during the month.
  • Place items in or near the baskets in the Narthex.
The Good Ground Pantry is an ongoing project at Bethel with a number of members and friends that work a Saturday a month or occasionally to distribute bags of food to the guests. Thank you for your continued support and prayers.

Bethel Connection

March 30, 2023
 

This Week from Pastor Merle
This weeks reading: “Works of Love”

April 16th will be my final Sunday to be with you in worship. You can read my resignation letter here.

Stewardship Notes from the Pastor

"The Currencies of Relationship"

Holy Week
SUN 4/2   The Sunday of the Passion (Palm Sunday)
8:45 AM   First Sunday Cross+Generational event:
                “Pave the Way”
10 AM      Holy Communion, with Palm Procession and the 
                Passion according to St. Matthew

THU 4/6   The Three Days: Maundy Thursday
7 PM        Holy Communion, with foot-washing and
                 stripping of the altar

FRI 4/7     The Three Days: Good Friday
12:15 PM Good Friday Mid-Day Devotion (choral)
7 PM        Good Friday Liturgy, with the Passion
                according to St. John

SAT 4/8    The Three Days: Holy Saturday
8:16 PM   The Great Vigil of Easter (begins at nightfall)    
                 (incense will be used at this service)
10:30 PM  Champagne Reception (after the Easter Vigil)

SUN 4/9    The Day of Resurrection: Easter Day
8 AM         Holy Communion
9:30 AM    Easter breakfast, sponsored by the Bethel Youth
11 AM       Holy Communion

First Sunday April 2, Palm Sunday: Pave the Way!
ShapeDescription automatically generatedAll of our Bethel friends of any age are invited to help us in this special Palm Sunday edition of “First Sunday.” We plan a festive beginning to Holy Week for all, led by Bethel’s own musicians. Come at 8:30 for a snack; our program begins at 8:45. We’ll have a variety of activities, including a chance to costume up!

ADULT FORUM
The Adult Forum will resume on the Sunday after Easter.

April 16 - This will be Pr. Merle’s last Adult Forum presentation with us as he completes his interim ministry at Bethel.  Concluding his series on the parables, he asks “Are there any that disturb or bother you?” Some of the parables that he will discuss with us are these: 

  • The Parable of the Sower.  "Is this about the seed, or the soil?"
  • The Parable of the Generous Vineyard Owner. "So, working harder gets you no considerations?"
  • The Parable of the "Friend" at Midnight and the Parable of the Unjust Judge.   "I don't get what I need because I'm a good neighbor or a nice little old lady, but rather because I'm persistent and obnoxious?"  


April 23 - Bethel member Kristina Stierholz will reflect on her personal “Journey of Spiritual Exploration.”

April 30 - Dr. Leigh Schmidt, Washington University Distinguished Professor in the Humanities and faculty at the Danforth Center on Religion and Politics, will lead a presentation and discussion on “Being Spiritual but not Religious or Church-Goers.”

Bethel Youth Hosting Annual
Easter Breakfast!
Bethel’s youth households will host an Easter Breakfast on Sunday, April 9 from 9:30 to 10:45 am. We hope you’ll join us for this treasured Bethel event. There will be a freewill offering for the Youth Fund.

  • We’re still in need of donations of freshly baked pastries and other treats 
    • Either homemade or from a local bakery 
    • Contact Malinda Walter (mwalterslagle@yahoo.com) 
  • Come and enjoy our Farmer’s Casserole (meat and vegetable options), Easter eggs, bacon, freshly baked pastries and other sweets, fruit salad, juice, coffee and tea 

Bethel’s Baseball Pancake Breakfast 
Saturday, April 15 at 8:00 a.m.

New this year!!! Cardinals Tickets to be Auctioned beginning at the Easter Breakfast! Don’t miss out!!!
Here’s what will be offered at the breakfast:

  • Delicious pancakes and bacon
  • 20+ sets of baseball tickets to be auctioned
  • Insightful analysis of the Cardinals’ 2023 season with Tom

Ackerman, KMOX Sports Director

  • Donations for beds and basic medical/delivery supplies for a small maternity building in the village of Oliopiri, Tanzania, Africa
  • Friends, fellowship and fun!!!

Advocacy Opportunity for Clean Air, Renewable Energy, and
Protection of Wild Spaces
Cindy Gross has committed to join the Sierra Club for Legislative Lobby Day on Wednesday, April 5 in Jefferson City. One-hour training is provided upon arrival. Cindy is happy to carpool if there are others that would like to join this effort. See the link below to RSVP. Cindy’s contact info: 314/560-1112 (cell) or cjgross10@gmail.com

Missouri Sierra Club State Legislative Lobby Day - Wednesday, April 5 
Join other Sierra Club members and supporters as we travel to Jefferson City to talk to our legislators. Our leaders need to know that Missourians support clean air, renewable energy, and the protection of wild spaces. Please consider lending your voice and joining us for this exciting day! RSVP Here

#FewerPlasticforLent:
Pantry Staples 
Read this weeks article!
Each week during Lent the Green Justice Seminary Team will be sharing one step you can take to reduce your impact on Creation as a Lenten practice and will be taking these steps alongside the rest of the seminary. Thank you for joining us on this Lenten journey to reduce our plastic consumption and practice loving our neighbors impacted by plastic production and plastic waste around the world.

Learn about St. Louis recycling by reading Where Does Our Recycling Go?

A group of colorful eggsDescription automatically generated with low confidenceRSVP for Easter Egg Hunt
This Saturday
Hoping to see YOU at our pre-Easter egg hunt and brunch for children AND the congregation on Saturday, April 1 from 11am to 1pm. Ron and Marie Walker and family are hosting; text or call them to RSVP at 314-443-4667.

Moon Over BuffaloLogoDescription automatically generated
Come enjoy Haven and Avery White’s performances in this comedy at Brentwood High School on April 13, 14 and 15 at 7pm. Tickets are $10 at the door. Please note: due to some promiscuous behavior and language, “viewer discretion is advised.” 
 

Congregation Council Minutes
Summary of the March 13, 2023 meeting.


Join The Eastern Missouri Conference And The Lutheran School Of Theology For A Day Of Education On Diversity And The Doctrine Of Discovery
Keynote Speaker: Vance Blackfox–Vance Blackfox, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, is ELCA director for Indigenous ministries and tribal relations. Join us as we learn the history and power analysis of the Doctrine of Discovery and why this is existential for Christians.

Visit the website to register and for more information.
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